Mentor man accused of fatally injecting woman with heroin set for trial

A Mentor man accused of fatally injecting a woman with heroin is scheduled to go on trial June 23 in Lake County Common Pleas Court.

Michael Zusman, 25, failed to get 22-year-old Concord Township resident Danielle Spisak medical help quickly enough after she passed out and lost consciousness at his Marigold Road home May 9, Mentor police said.

Zusman was indicted Feb. 21 on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison, and corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of eight years in prison.

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He also was charged with five other felonies ó trafficking in heroin, after being caught with less than 1 gram of the drug; three counts of tampering with evidence; and possessing criminal tools for allegedly having a Trac cellphone used to commit the crimes, according to the indictment.

Zusman has pleaded not guilty to all charges.†

Defense attorney Cory Hinton and Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson declined comment.
Zusmanís bond was originally set at $250,000.†

However, in March Judge Vincent A. Culotta ordered him to remain in Lake County Jail until the case is finished at Hintonís request.†

An employee of TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township called police around 2:45 a.m. that day after Zusman brought Spisak to the hospital. Zusman first called a friend to help him before bringing her to TriPoint, according to police.

Zusman has prior convictions for drug possession and drug trafficking.